Saluki Women’s Basketball signs two for 2018-19
11/08/2017 | 3:11:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill.- Southern Illinois University women's basketball head coach Cindy Stein has announced the signing of two student-athletes for the 2018-19 season.
The Salukis sign a pair of highly-touted guards from state championship winning programs: Payton McCallister of Columbia, Mo. and Caitlin Link of Madison, Wis.
"These two young ladies will make us better," Stein said. "They make us smarter, grittier, better defenders and offensively are threats from all spots on the floor. They have wonderful personalities that will make for an easy transition into our team chemistry."
McCallister is the highest-rated recruit of Stein's class this season. The Columbia, Mo. native is ranked a three-star recruit by ESPN, which also ranked her the 86th-best point guard in the Class of 2018. A floor leader who provides versatility with her length at the guard position and her tenacious defense, McCallister won a state title as a freshmen at Rock Bridge High School. As a junior, McCallister averaged 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.6 assists per game and shot 35% from three-point range to lead the Bruins to a third-place finish at the state tournament. For her efforts, McCallister was named to the Central Missouri All-District team. A two-sport athlete, McCallister is a decorated forward on Rock Bridge's soccer team who earned All-District, All-Region and All-State Second Team honors during her senior campaign. The three-star recruit also gets it done in the classroom- she holds a 3.9 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society.
"I am so excited that Payton chose SIU," Stein said. "She is an incredibly driven competitor that can play any guard spot. She attacks the basket, knocks down the 3 and has a great pullup jumper. She is use to guarding the best kid on the opposing team and is gritty defender. Her versatility and basketball IQ will be two things that get her on the floor as a freshman. She is also another outstanding student and a great young lady out in the community."
Link comes from Edgewood High School in Madison, Wi. which went 25-3 a year ago and won the Wisconsin Division 3 state title. In the state title game, Link finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals to help Edgewood defeat Greendale Martin Luther, 51-30. Individually, Link averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game during a junior campaign in which she earned both all-conference first-team and all-area honors. As a sophomore, she helped the Crusaders to a berth in the WIAA Division 3 state semifinals with an average of 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. In doing so, she earned all-conference and all-area honorable mention honors. An all-around athlete, Link also competes on Edgewood's volleyball and track and field teams and received several Division I offers to run track. As a freshman, she won a state championship as part of Edgewood's 4x800 relay team, and as a junior, took fourth in the 800-meter run at the state meet. An exceptional student, Link holds a 4.08 grade point average and is a four-time academic excellence award recipient. Link will be the third division I athlete in her family as her brother, Cody, plays football at Northwestern, while her sister, Courtney, runs cross country and track at St. Louis University. Their mother, Kelly, was inducted into the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame for cross country and track.
"Caitlin is not just a high energy player, she is an extremely intense, high-energy competitor," Stein said. "She may be one of the best all-around point guards that we have ever signed. She plays defense with a passion, she pushes the ball up the floor, is a tremendous passer and can nail the three or get to the basket. Above all of that, she is a smart and talented young lady off the court as well. She is a difference maker!"
The Salukis sign a pair of highly-touted guards from state championship winning programs: Payton McCallister of Columbia, Mo. and Caitlin Link of Madison, Wis.
"These two young ladies will make us better," Stein said. "They make us smarter, grittier, better defenders and offensively are threats from all spots on the floor. They have wonderful personalities that will make for an easy transition into our team chemistry."
McCallister is the highest-rated recruit of Stein's class this season. The Columbia, Mo. native is ranked a three-star recruit by ESPN, which also ranked her the 86th-best point guard in the Class of 2018. A floor leader who provides versatility with her length at the guard position and her tenacious defense, McCallister won a state title as a freshmen at Rock Bridge High School. As a junior, McCallister averaged 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.6 assists per game and shot 35% from three-point range to lead the Bruins to a third-place finish at the state tournament. For her efforts, McCallister was named to the Central Missouri All-District team. A two-sport athlete, McCallister is a decorated forward on Rock Bridge's soccer team who earned All-District, All-Region and All-State Second Team honors during her senior campaign. The three-star recruit also gets it done in the classroom- she holds a 3.9 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society.
"I am so excited that Payton chose SIU," Stein said. "She is an incredibly driven competitor that can play any guard spot. She attacks the basket, knocks down the 3 and has a great pullup jumper. She is use to guarding the best kid on the opposing team and is gritty defender. Her versatility and basketball IQ will be two things that get her on the floor as a freshman. She is also another outstanding student and a great young lady out in the community."
Link comes from Edgewood High School in Madison, Wi. which went 25-3 a year ago and won the Wisconsin Division 3 state title. In the state title game, Link finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals to help Edgewood defeat Greendale Martin Luther, 51-30. Individually, Link averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game during a junior campaign in which she earned both all-conference first-team and all-area honors. As a sophomore, she helped the Crusaders to a berth in the WIAA Division 3 state semifinals with an average of 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. In doing so, she earned all-conference and all-area honorable mention honors. An all-around athlete, Link also competes on Edgewood's volleyball and track and field teams and received several Division I offers to run track. As a freshman, she won a state championship as part of Edgewood's 4x800 relay team, and as a junior, took fourth in the 800-meter run at the state meet. An exceptional student, Link holds a 4.08 grade point average and is a four-time academic excellence award recipient. Link will be the third division I athlete in her family as her brother, Cody, plays football at Northwestern, while her sister, Courtney, runs cross country and track at St. Louis University. Their mother, Kelly, was inducted into the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame for cross country and track.
"Caitlin is not just a high energy player, she is an extremely intense, high-energy competitor," Stein said. "She may be one of the best all-around point guards that we have ever signed. She plays defense with a passion, she pushes the ball up the floor, is a tremendous passer and can nail the three or get to the basket. Above all of that, she is a smart and talented young lady off the court as well. She is a difference maker!"
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